Busy first day for Rockford AirFest 2014

Poole, 11, said the noise was his favorite part of the event as he roamed the Chicago Rockford International Airport grounds with mom, Kathy, and brothers, 11-year-old Jeffrey and 5-year-old Ryne. It was their first time at AirFest, and they had just gotten their photos taken inside a small F-117 Stealth aircraft, complete with helmets and their names on the canopy, special for the pictures.

“It was something we wanted to do the last couple of times, and I knew we were thinking about it last year, and then they canceled it,” Kathy said of their decision to attend. “The prices didn’t seem bad, and thought it would be a good time for the kids and thought they’d have a lot of fun.”

Thousands of people had the same idea, and Mother Nature obliged. Rain that had been forecasted for the afternoon held off, and white clouds dotted the blue sky all morning.

The voices of announcers blared over loudspeakers as performers sped off the runways, and music ranged from AC/DC to Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” as the smoke from planes formed a heart in the sky. The theme of this year’s show is Honoring Heroes.

Marlin Berrospe of Rockford took photos of her kids, 6-year-old Omar and 5-year-old Enrique, in front of a silver N133CK aircraft. Berrospe said she’s a regular AirFest-goer and said the kids like seeing the planes up close and getting to go inside of some of them.

Paul and Jennifer Mattis of Machesney Park and their kids, Kamryn, 9, and Arayah, 7, toured a Canadian military plane with friend Brandi Tedder of Machesney Park and her daughter, 5-year-old Leah.

Jennifer was a first-timer at AirFest, and she and Brandi both were happy about the nice weather and said the tour of the plane was a fun experience and very informative.

The kids held rolled-up AirFest posters as they moved on to the next activity.

“I like watching the jets,” Kamryn said as the Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds buzzed by over his head in the sky. Arayah and Leah smiled and winced at the loud echo of the planes as they whizzed past.

“You can’t hear at first, but then you can hear better after they go by,” he continued.

AirFest continues Sunday. Gates open at 9 a.m., and performances run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $30 per carload.